Science-Based, Force-Free Behaviour Support for Dogs and Cats
Professional guidance focused on welfare, safety, and lasting change for animals and their families.
What Pet Parents Say
Shaggy Dog Pet Service has shown me that my dogs are highly trainable by ME! In two short sessions Victoria has trained me how to walk my dogs so that they behave without me yelling or them pulling! She has also reliably come to take my dogs out twice a week for a group walk and left me journal notes from my dogs each time with updates on how well they are walking on leash. I have booked Victoria for some in-home dog, cat and fish sitting in the near future and I feel confident that I am leaving my pets and my home in her capable hands. I highly recommend Victoria’s Shaggy Dog Pet Services and it isn’t just because we have the same breed of dogs, it’s because her services are what she says they are - and more!
Victoria was very compassionate when listening to my concerns about my cat Apricot and her new housemates. Victoria has always told us 100% of the truth and been very realistic with our training.
I really appreciated her teaching us(the humans) what we needed to know to improve our animals lives while maintaining their natural behaviours. Apricot got the best cat highway of her life and we are always striving to create enriching experiences for her.
Victoria was very fair with us and flexible when it came to our timings of training and when we needed to pay - overall she has had excellent quality training and was extremely professional.
Met with Victoria for some assistance with my dog, Bruce, who has a tendency to be fearful and bark at strangers coming into his home or other familiar environments. Victoria was great with Bruce and able to calm him quickly when she came to our home. She educated us on dog behaviour, human behaviour, and what messages can be transferred through these interactions. She gave us a thorough and easy-to-follow training plan and has checked in multiple times since to see how everything is going and if we have any more questions. Would highly recommend Victoria for behaviour training that is based solely on reinforcement and positivity, rather than punishment and negativity. Her prices are also very fair, and it is worth it for Bruce to be more comfortable and for me to be more confident!
Victoria is an amazing trainer. She worked along side me to train my Sheepie and I'm truly grateful for her support and guidance. We came to Victoria for basic puppy training and am very pleased with her services and knowledge. Aglaea has learned so much from a sit and stay, heel with no pulling her leash when walking, puppy nip control, to greeting with proper manners and completely adores the learning games we learned to satisfy her natural puppy needs. Victoria's lessons and instructions are easy to follow, she readily answers any questions or concerns and I am now constantly complimented on my pup's manners and behavior. We had a lot of fun leaning and absolutely recommend Shaggy Dog Pet Services!
Expertise You Can Trust
Meet Victoria Blondin
(BVM&S, MSc, BSc, Cert. SAPT)
Victoria Blondin is the founder of Shaggy Dog Pet Services and a science-based canine and feline behaviour consultant serving Kingston and Eastern Ontario. She believes every pet is a family member first, and that behaviour change should be built on understanding, trust, and evidence-based practice.
Her journey began in high school, retraining neglected horses, which sparked a lifelong focus on behaviour, welfare, and humane training. Victoria went on to earn a Master of Science in Animal Welfare and Behaviour from the University of Guelph, along with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. She does not simply “train dogs”; she helps guardians understand their pet’s communication, emotional state, and needs, using force-free, science-based methods rather than fear or punishment.
Why Science-Based Training?
With over 15 years of experience working with dogs, cats, and other companion animals, Victoria stays current with modern behaviour science so clients do not have to guess what works. Her approach focuses on welfare, safety, and long-term outcomes, whether addressing separation anxiety, fear and reactivity, puppy foundations, or cat behaviour concerns. The goal is always the same: to reduce stress, improve communication, and restore calm and confidence in the home.
The Winston Connection
Victoria’s Old English Sheepdog, Winston, is a daily reminder that training should be engaging and enjoyable. While he began in formal obedience, his true passion turned out to be trick training, reinforcing an important lesson: when we listen to animals and work with their preferences, learning becomes both effective and joyful. That philosophy carries through every consultation and programme at Shaggy Dog Pet Services.
